Trail Report: More Closed Mines - Oro Grande

[Mitch]

After hearing about more and more mines being closed, I took Dennison to explore more of the Oro Grande Mining District. We braved the 40 mph winds and cold temps without the hardtop or doors. Dennison is quite the trooper on the trail.

The first mine we went to was as I remember, over
150' deep and a large room at the begining and some stoped areas.







Next we headed to the largest mine in the area. We parked on the tailings pile and walked to the enterance. And after 100 years the BLM or sponsored contractor has welded a grate across the front. Too bad, this one goes back 300 feet and then splits left and right to large stoped areas at a 45' angle. Someone has already started cutting thru the bars.





Next we went around the corner to another cool mine tunnel the goes in 100' and meets up with a verticle shaft up thru the ceiling that makes a cool skylight effect. Guess what.... metal grate across the front. The shaft on top has now been collared and capped. At least they didn't destroy the arrastra.





Next we cruised to the Oro Grande mine. This spot had several tunnels and shafts, with large prospect trenches. But to my dismay, the whole area has been dozed and destroyed. Historical stuff from 1880's gone. The largest shaft has been covered and grated.







We hit one more spot up on the side of a hill that has a couple of carbonate mines. These have not been messed with yet. Great view from up here looking towards the 15 freeway 2 miles away.









I suggest that if anyone wants to see these spots around the desert and mountains you better do it soon! Your tax dollars are paying for this.

Mitch

[CalFireGuy]

WOW Mitch that really sucks to see that more areas are being taking away. We're not gonna have anything left to explore, I guess I better get out more to see what I can see. As always THANKS for the pics and info.

[ironbelle]

By the time I'm able to go offroading again, there won't be any more places to explore.

[flatpoint]

That sucks.....

[aw12345]

Aren't we all enjoying our tax dollars at work.
Got to love paying for the pleasure of having big government taking away the things we love and cherish

[LEADFOOTjosh]

shit makes me so F-ing angry..

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!11

[troyboy162]

what the heck is with gating the fairly safe ones? the only thing i can say is at least its gates instead of a cheap hand full of dynamite.
great pics!

[aw12345]

That is pretty much ho0w I feel about the destruction of the Cleghorn trails, nothing illegal about them they were existing trail that had been there for a very long time, all it accomplishes is pushing more vehicles on fewer trails causing more havoc and even more closures.
This kind of behavior by our taxpayer funded forest service is counter productive and in away illegal since it takes away the right to access for those that suffer from disabilities.

[dirtman13]

By the time I'm able to go offroading again, there won't be any more places to explore.

Exactly what I was thinking. :mad:

[Desert Patty]

Trail Report More Closed Mines - Oro Grande

They gated it because it's a maternity colony for bats.

The White Nose Syndrome has made it to Missouri. That's very bad. I just hope it doesn't make it all the way to CA as they will close all mines and caves that have bats in them

Patty

[OU812]

Interesting. Not sure how it spreads but no reported cases of human infection.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/pdf/white-nosefaqs.pdf

[nwoods]

Next we cruised to the Oro Grande mine. This spot had several tunnels and shafts, with large prospect trenches. But to my dismay, the whole area has been dozed and destroyed. Historical stuff from 1880's gone. The largest shaft has been covered and grated.

That's one of most offensive pictures I've ever seen. I am extraordinary angry at "my" government. What a F'ng waste of money and needles closure and destruction of the outdoor environment.

[Mitch]

Patty,

We both love the outdoors and the mine areas. I also know that you have a specific interest in bats and there preservation. In some parts of the country the mine and cave systems are major breeding and habitat areas. that is not the case here in the high desert. I have been inside 80+ mines in the Lucerne Valley, Ord Mountains, Fry Mountains, and Big Bear Mountain area and have seen a total of 5 bats. We are not talking about families or colonies. 5 bats out of dozens of trips to a total of 80+ mines. The Greenies are using that as an excuse to close mines in the desert and it is totally unfounded in this area. The Sierra Club, Bio-Diversity groups, and so many others want to put our public lands back like they were 200 years ago and pretend history never happened. Make sure we are fighting the right battle locally. We are losing trails and access at a scary rate. This will hit home to others when the MCAGCC takes the Johnson Valley and the Hammers away. Then a whole lot of others will be pissed and then better understand my concern over the places I love and visit so often. Once it is gone it is gone forever!

Mitch

[Mitch]

Nathan,

It was a shock and dissapointment for sure. such a neat area only 2 miles off of the 15 Fwy. The Oro Grande Mining District was a large reason for the original population coming to this area from the 1860's. I thought the same: Offensive. They even screwed up a bunch of trails to and from so that they could bring in the dozer and blade to ruin it. Kinda what will happen to the area around Granite Mountain when the Wind Generators come in.It seems kind of ironic that Sierra Club type of groups worry about vehicle access to remote areas but then this is done and accepted. "Things that make you say hmmm".

Mitch

Mitch

[aw12345]

I am with you Mitch, I guess we better start saving up to become the happy owners of a chunk of desert so we can do whatever we please on it and thumb our nose at the forest service and all the other a holes that deny us access to our country's wilderness.